1AM IN NOLA

Pick up the telephone and call,

I know it's been a while.

Do you remember me?

I didn't always bring you down.

Nobody's perfect in this world,

Not even God's child.

Imagine Joseph when she told him—

Is it all a lie?

I'm getting off topic,

Sorry man, I do that often.

I got so much to say,

But do they really hear me talking?

It's prolly why I never dropped

And kept it all for self.

It's hard to love yourself

When you lack it from someone else.

Enough of me though—how you living?

Are you happy now?

I seen you working on yourself,

In the gym working out.

I hope your parents good,

They treated me just like they child.

But when I hurt you, man, I know how much I let 'em down.

Cole world, so you know I'm down to work it out.

I know you miss me and the way I used to work it out.

The way we took them trips around the country tripping out.

Apologized so many times, she says it's worthless now.

Thought it'd be worth it if we took the time to work it out,

But then reality just had to open up its mouth.

I know you really think I'm out here tryna chase a spouse,

But things ain't always as they seem—don't trust the word of mouth.

I ain't apologizing, I just had to let it out

And let you know that you ain't crazy,

Just a hand-me-down.

And I don't mean no disrespect, so ain't no need to shout,

Just think about it for a while and you'll figure it out.

I really hope you take that job and think 'bout moving out,

'Cause opportunity is slim for women in the South.

And when you see me on your screen one day—fuck,

I'd rather let my actions talk, so let me watch my mouth.

I really wish they showed me love instead of lashing out,

'Cause when they put him in that cage, I had to break him out.

I'm hoping when the ride is finished that they let me out,

And when the party's over, that somebody picks me out.

'Cause I been feeling like nobody wanna see me now.

Somebody told me they intimidated—tell me how?

"Well, it's a combination of the way you walk, talk, dress,

Get that paper and don't even break a sweat.

The way you apply that pressure—

I swear, I gotta confess,

Got most of them ****,

All of these bitches pressed, yeah."

That's when I told her, "I know.

It's always been this way."